Why do you reload?

[LiveLife]

I was posting a response to another thread and decided to do another polling thread.

I don't know if it's worth it to reload for 9mm once you factor your time in.
However, 9mm was one of the first cartridges I reloaded for and I learned a lot about reloading by practicing on the 9mm. The experience gained from it served me well as I went on to reload other rounds, so I think you should reload for it even if you don't save any money.

No... buy your ammo.
It is not about money, working up a load for your gun and producing accurate reliable consistent ammo is time consuming and tedious. The machinery is aggravatingly finicky and the number of variables associated with the components and how they go together is mind numbing.

These are two opposite responses to reloading and both are right, from their perspectives.


I reload for several reasons but the primary reason is because it is one of my many hobbies. I don't factor in my time to the cost of reloading because it allows me time to relax and clear my head from work/world - I tell my doctor it sure is cheaper than therapy!

In the past 16 years, I have reloaded well over 300,000 rounds. If you average $10-$20 per box of 50 (say $15), factory ammo cost would come out to about $30,000. Shooting mostly FMJ (Montana Gold) with some plated and lead bullets, my cost of reloading comes quite a bit below $15,000 (or less than $1000 per year). It is true that I have shot more because I reload, but I don't see this as a problem but a benefit.

Compared to my other hobbies, shooting/reloading is more "economical" hobby as riding quads/toy trailers cost several times more and even grilling/BBQ easily run over $200-$300 per month (you could say we gotta eat, but you could always grill hot dogs/burgers instead ). It certainly saves money when compared to taking the family to the steak/BBQ house and I don't mind spending several hours and a lot of work to see the satisfying smiles on everyone's faces - and I get a lot of leftovers for lunch for the following week.

I think the cost of reloading is relative. I have covered the cost of my reloading equipment a loooong time ago and just about covered the cost of every firearm I ever bought by reloading. Accuracy of reloads and being able to reload milder rounds for wife/daughter is something you cannot do with factory ammo.

So, why do you reload?

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

It is also my hobby. I also do not factor time. I like doing it and it saves money on buying ammunition so that I can enjoy another of my hobbies, shooting the stuff I reload.

I just had a large outlay on a progressive fully dressed. Now if I can just find some reasonably prices Hornady feed dies in .380/9mm and .38/357. Hope to get my AP fully functional in a couple of days.

 

[LiveLife]

I think another benefit I take for granted is availability. When many other shooters want to go shooting, they either stop by Walmart and buy whatever is cheapest or simply buy ammo at the range. When I want to go shooting, I load up my range bags with ammo boxes (MTM, Berry's, Midway, etc.) and head out. Since I stock up on bulk components and reload at my leisure, I never have to look for sales or spend gas to drive to Walmart and fight the crowd.

If relatives/friends come visit and want to go shooting, no problem. I grab coffee cans with loaded ammo and we are good to go.

 

[Harley Quinn]

It seemed to be all, part of the big picture...Not as much of late, will do more soon

 

[BossHogg]

I think another benefit I take for granted is availability. When many other shooters want to go shooting, they either stop by Walmart and buy whatever is cheapest or simply buy ammo at the range. When I want to go shooting, I load up my range bags with ammo boxes (MTM, Berry's, Midway, etc.) and head out. Since I stock up on bulk components and reload at my leisure, I never have to look for sales or spend gas to drive to Walmart and fight the crowd.

If relatives/friends come visit and want to go shooting, no problem. I grab coffee cans with loaded ammo and we are good to go.

I think that pretty well sums it up. It's nice to have ammo on hand when you need. Just a great hobby to waste my time on.

 

[dawico]

Pretty much all of the above. I load everything from plinking ammo for my handguns, hunting ammo, and match ammo for 50BMG. When ammo and primers were scarce, I had plenty of componants.

 

[oneounceload]

I couldn't shoot as much if I didn't; however, hand me a winning Powerball ticket, and the reloading equipment goes in the garage sale box

 

[jleyring]

Just as others have said it is for fun. It gives me something to do instead of watch tv. I grew up reloading with my father and older brother. It has become a bonding time for me with them. Gives us time to talk while enjoying reloading. It is really relaxing also. Put on the radio and start reloading and let my mind drift off. Next thing i know 3 hours have gone by.

 

[BossHogg]

I couldn't shoot as much if I didn't; however, hand me a winning Powerball ticket, and the reloading equipment goes in the garage sale box

Can you reload on a yacht?

 

[RustyFN]

For me it's enjoyment, relaxation and better ammo. The much cheaper cost per round is icing on the cake.

 

[ghitch75]

because i shoot a lot.....

 

[LiveLife]

hand me a winning Powerball ticket, and the reloading equipment goes in the garage sale box

If I won the lottery, I would build a new house on an acreage with pistol/rifle/shotgun/action pistol ranges with dedicated reloading shop that shoots out to the range from the bench for load development!

I would sponsor reloading setups/components give aways/drawings for THR staff/mods and members to "give back" to this great forum.

Can you reload on a yacht?

Maybe I would do a reloading setup in the land yacht to travel in close proximity to matches and gun shows.

 

[bubbacrabb]

I enjoy it cause i can get away from the woman for a few minutes. Its like a break from reality.

 

[gamestalker]

I gain some economic advantage to reloading, but it has absolutely no influence as to why I do it. When I decided to begin reloading, it was the ability to assemble the highest quality ammunimtion obtainable that inspired me. In this respect I also have reservations about those who load only for the economic advantage. Reloading becomes more and more risky and complex as you begin loading down which seems to evolve into creating one's own unpublished data based soley on apparent function.
I quickly progressed from a Mec 600 Jr. to loading metalic and never looked back.

 

[Walkalong]

Like many, I started reloading to save money and because it fascinated me. I devoured every article I could about reloading. No internet back then.

And as many have found out, I ended up spending just as much, but got to shoot more, which is a good thing.

Then came casting, which also fascinated me, to "save" even more money, followed by going to gas stations bumming my next fix of wheel weights.

I continue to reload because I enjoy it, I can tailor my loads to meet my needs, I get to shoot more, and would probably continue to reload most calibers even if it did not save enough money to increase my shooting.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Exlaining my votes

I thought I would explain my votes.

It's a relaxing hobby I enjoy, regardless of cost

Not quite. If it cost a LOT, I would pick a more economical relaxing hobby. For example, playing guitar is relaxing for me.

I enjoy reloading but do it mainly to save money over factory ammo

It is why I started 35 years ago as a lowly paid E-3. I knew that I could not afford to shoot factory ammo, so I factored in the purchase of a basic reloading setup in with the purchase of the gun. In the first year, that gun only ever saw two boxes of factory ammo, but it saw those cases many times.

Incidentally, I am one of those who factors in my time (opportunity cost, mainly). I do that for curiosity's sake. And for most calibers (9mm usually and 45 ACP when on sale, the exceptions) I STILL save money over factory prices.

I want custom loads (less recoil) for various reasons

I like to experiment. Right now, my plan is to compare similar weight bullets out of the 454 Casull and 480 Ruger in otherwise identical guns and figure out what the deal is with felt recoil. To do that, I have to match the velocity, also.

This one, I did not vote "yes" on.

I am a perfectionist and only I can handload "perfect" ammo

I am a perfectionist, but that is not why I reload. Besides that, I know that despite being a perfectionist, I recognize that I am not perfect.

Regards, and thanks for starting this poll.

Lost Sheep

 

[dozernomore]

I have a hard enough tome holding the cross hairs steady.(lol)
I reload for the best accurracy with a fine tuned load.
I am not happy unless I can put 5 shots under a dime at 100 yards.

 

[helotaxi]

You left out an option which is making sure that I have ammo. In late '08, ammo dried up before reloading components did and while I couldn't be wasteful, especially with primers, I could keep shooting my .45s (Auto and Colt). In fact, my .45Colts have yet to see a factory load.

Of the options that you did include, I find it relaxing in its own right.

 

[northwoods99]

I reload because it is a fun thing for me, my dad and my son to do. It is like our time to experiment and have fun. We all love to shoot so reload just went hand in hand with it. We experiment with target loading and hunting loads. What is more fun that spending time with you dad and your son? Oh by the way, Dad have a happy fathers day!

 

[BYJO4]

I began reloading over 35 years ago to save money on ammo. While I do find it relaxing, it is still the savings that keeps me reloading today.

 

[BeerSleeper]

The same reason I fix my own car, change my own oil, mow my own grass, fix/maintain my own house/appliances/plumbing, cook my own food, bake my own bread, and wipe my own butt.

Self-reliance and economic efficiency. I depend on me. Who do you depend on?

 

[evan price]

My best answer isn't on the list:

Because if I can't get ammo, my gun is just a clumsy impact weapon.

During the Obama scare you couldn't find ammo in many calibers. I was quite glad that I had stocked up on primers and had ingots of lead, buckets of brass, jugs of powder and bricks of primers in my inventory. I never ran out of anything.

So the reason that finally convinced me was "Cheaper shooting" but the best reason is "So I always have ammo".

 

[gamestalker]

It was quite a different game before the internet, we had to work hard to gain understanding and data. I didn't have one single person to go to for advice and data came by means of buying books. My first book was the Speer reloading manual, #10 I believe 1979 edition. I read that book and a couple others cover to cover more times than I can even begin to estimate. The amazing part of learning through the hard cover books, was I've never had a problem or mishap of any sort, despite the fact that I didn't have a mentor or go to guy.

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

I took the poll, but have to add that a large number of calibers I reload for are NOT available from ANY source (or weren't when I started reloading). Also, I refuse to mess with most surplus ammo because it's either corrosive, dirty, unreliable, and/or dangerous and I CAN make more perfect ammo in those instances.

 

[LiveLife]

the best reason is "So I always have ammo".

Ding, Ding, Ding!

large number of calibers I reload for are NOT available from ANY source

Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!